Sometimes, it is easy to just do the chores at home on my own or with MCJ. The chores get finished quickly. But I have to admit that we have to train the Tatapilla if he has a chance to live in the real world when the time comes and actually survive and flourish. It might be exaggerated but really, some kids these days don't have enough skills to survive living alone unless they have heaps of money at their disposal to buy take-aways, pay the cleaners or anybody who are willing to do it for them.
Anyway, here are some tasks/chores that are appropriate for 4-7 year olds:

set the table or help set the table
put away toys/things
help feed pets
water plants
help make bed
dust
put laundry in hamper
help put dishes in dishwasher
water the garden
help wipe up messes
help with yard work (rake with child's rake or plant flowers, etc.)
help clear table
help put away groceries

My Tatapilla already does most of these chores at home.
The next step for us are:

make bed
water plants
clean room with direction
set the table
clear the table
dust
vacuum
feed pets (depends on type of pet and how your comfortable your child is interacting with the pet)
help make dinner
put laundry in hamper
help wash the car
help wash dishes
help load/empty dishwasher
rake leaves
take out the trash

My little Tatapilla is not so little anymore. This photo was taken late last year and he has grown quite a lot. I reckon the pirate outfit does not fit him anymore.
In the span of three months this year, he has grown about a couple of inches. So it means clothes shopping as he has grown out of his clothes already. Oh boy!

The main reason that we go back to the Philippines as often as we can afford is for the Tatapilla to spend a lot of time with family up there. With our distance, communication is not that easy but when we got there, it's not like the Tatapilla and his cousins have been separate for a long time. They seems to pick up where they left off, which is a good thing.
The Tatapilla had a lot of fun. One of my nephews got puppies when we were there and the Tatapilla experienced how to have a dog for the first time. He enjoyed it a lot. There were tears when we left and didn't take the dogs with us.
Well, he's back into being a bikie again especially that my brother has a new motorbike. We bought him a helmet and he cruised with his uncle whenever they want.
It was mostly raining when we were there. We didn't get to accomplish a lot but it was still fun just spending time with the family - shure microphones at guitar center sure didn't come up in any conversation. It's all catching up and what have yous.

Last week marks the most memorable events in our lives especially with the Tatapilla. It was his first week at prep school. Actually, he is in a grade 1 prep mixed class. He is having fun and always excited to go to school. I am crossing my fingers that he will stay the same - so eager to learn new things, to meet new people and just be excited about life.
The first game console has graced out humble home. We never had one before aside from those you play on the computer. I am not against it but I am not into it either. Good thing this one, we didn't buy. It was a hand-me-down PS2, with all the trappings that come with it. Lots of games appropriate for his age. The tatapilla has been wanting a game console or a DS, that he would have have wrote a letter if we have thought tobuy suggestion boxes - he wanted to ask Santa about it. As they say, good things come to those who waits.

I don't worry about him gaining a lot of weight because looking at his baby photos and earlier years, he was actually more meaty. But sometimes, he would tell me he had enough to eat without finishing his dinner. Am I giving him more than he can have? How much is enough. It could mean sometimes that he is just wanting is dessert early.

What’s a healthy weight?
After the age of six months, plotting children’s weight and height in the health record book provided with their birth can give parents a fair idea of how their growth is tracking, says Dietitians Association of Australia spokeswoman Kate Di Prima.
“If they are gaining weight proportionately, this is a healthy sign,” Di Prima says. She says if at six months your child is on, say, the 25th percentile line (that is, weighing under the average) and continues to track along this line, it is likely your child is gaining weight proportionately.
“If parents are concerned, they could also check their child’s BMI and discuss it with a dietitian or their doctor or health nurse.”
For older kids, she says clothes size is a good indication of their weight. “If they’re eight years old and the height of an eight-year old but wearing size 12, this could flag an issue with weight. Again, talk about this with the appropriate health professional.”

Now, on the off-topic.. and very much so.. have you been to a cigar store?

We are melting these days. The mercury is just rising.
Callipo is the favourite cooler. One day, the Tatapilla ate 6 of them - what's left in the box. I was not impressed but I thought, it was funny. He must have been really hot or he didn't eat anything other than them. I'd like to put him on a medical exam table.. no just to interrogate him but I chose my battle. No use crying over eaten callipo.

He saw me one evening using a razor in the shower then asked, why can't I shave. I explained that he hasn't got hair that require shaving. But I have hair, he replied showing to me his miniscule hair. I said, they're baby hair.. not adult hair.
One night, he was screaming in the bathroom and crying. He had scratches-like wound on both of his legs. He fibbed to me saying that he tripped. I believed him and gave comfort.
He let he cat out of the bag the next day by confessing that he didn't trip but shave himself instead. My reaction was torn of course. First, he fibbed and then.. what?! Shaved.
Lesson learned, I reckon. I wouldn't need monitor cart to see if he's going to shave again.

HO ho no! The festive season is facing its biggest crisis with a lack of Santas to stack the sacks in shopping store grottos across the state.
The situation is so critical - especially in country towns - that a Mr Claus recruitment agency is signing up older teens to fulfil the Christmas wishes of every young child.
"A lot of people believe it is a job only for a fat old man, but that's not the case," National Santa project manager for Bluestone Recruitment, Alan Ellis said.
"We are calling on 19-year-olds and upwards. When you get them dressed up in their costumes, you wouldn't know their age.
"You don't have to be fat because we will give you an artificial belly and we also give them an eyebrow-whitening pencil.
"We need around 600 Santas this year, but we only have 300. We desperately need Santas for Newcastle, Wagga Wagga, the Blue Mountains and Dubbo."
Mark Smithers, 28, said age is no barrier when it comes to being a good Santa and helping deliver Christmas to children.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/ho-ho-no-santa-shortage-critical/story-fneszs56-1226518630946#ixzz2CXCYeEU2

Any takers? I'm sure it'll be fun. It's community service despite the sweating in the suit as this summer has been predicted to be hot. Would they have some incentive (something like Iolo disk defragmenter) or is it asking too much?

It's hard to know how much is enough for a growing child. Sometimes, we want our kids to each as much as we can but there's a thin line between that and over feeding them.
But I reckon, mother's instinct is still the best but as we live a very harried and hurried life, it is waning - more like our linear bearings are decreasing.
Here's some input from bodyandsoul.com.au:

What’s a healthy weight?
After the age of six months, plotting children’s weight and height in the health record book provided with their birth can give parents a fair idea of how their growth is tracking, says Dietitians Association of Australia spokeswoman Kate Di Prima.
“If they are gaining weight proportionately, this is a healthy sign,” Di Prima says. She says if at six months your child is on, say, the 25th percentile line (that is, weighing under the average) and continues to track along this line, it is likely your child is gaining weight proportionately.
“If parents are concerned, they could also check their child’s BMI and discuss it with a dietitian or their doctor or health nurse.”
For older kids, she says clothes size is a good indication of their weight. “If they’re eight years old and the height of an eight-year old but wearing size 12, this could flag an issue with weight. Again, talk about this with the appropriate health professional.”